CO ₂ electroreduction to ethylene via hydroxide-mediated copper catalysis at an abrupt interface

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO) electroreduction could provide a useful source of ethylene, but low conversion efficiency, low production rates, and low catalyst stability limit current systems. Here we report that a copper electrocatalyst at an abrupt reaction interface in an alkaline electrolyte reduces CO to ethylene with 70% faradaic efficiency at a potential of -0.55 volts versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Hydroxide ions on or near the copper surface lower the CO reduction and carbon monoxide (CO)-CO coupling activation energy barriers; as a result, onset of ethylene evolution at -0.165 volts versus an RHE in 10 molar potassium hydroxide occurs almost simultaneously with CO production. Operational stability was enhanced via the introduction of a polymer-based gas diffusion layer that sandwiches the reaction interface between separate hydrophobic and conductive supports, providing constant ethylene selectivity for an initial 150 operating hours.

A Highly Active Star Decahedron Cu Nanocatalyst for Hydrocarbon Production at Low Overpotentials

“…Thus we focus our discussions of FE calculated by gas phase products (Tables S1 and S2, Supporting Information). [34] The polycrystalline structure of commercial Cu NPs (PC-Cu NPs) ( Figure S6, Supporting Information) and the GBs may contribute to the observed difference in C 2 H 4 production. www.advmat.de www.advancedsciencenews.com (Figure 2a,c), and the FE of CH 4 remained below 10% up to −0.98 V (Figure 2a).…”

Conformal Cu Coating on Electrospun Nanofibers for 3D Electro‐Conductive Networks

“…For nylon and ePTFE nanofibers, the mean values of diameters are smaller than 100 nm. 2020, 6,1900767 Au nanotrough [19] One layer (2D) a) Electrospun PVA b) / PVP c) NFs d) Metal (Ni, Cu, Ag, Au)/polymer nanofiber mat [20] Top layer (2D) Electrospun PAN f) NFs The water wettability of the four kinds of nanofiber membranes are analyzed by water contact angles shown in Figure S1a-d, Supporting Information.…”

“…2020, 6,1900767 The sheet resistance of Cu/pDA polymer nanofiber membranes was analyzed with a four-point probe setup (PRO4, Microworld, Inc.). Electron.…”

“…2020,6, 1900767 For PTFE samples, Cu deposits on the pDA thin films among PTFE nanofibers, in addition to the pDA coated PTFE nanofibers (Figure S3c, Supporting Information), forming Cu plates in the outermost layers of the nanofiber membrane.Further extension of deposition time results in the formation of Cu clusters(Figure 4c).…”

Activation of Ni Particles into Single Ni–N Atoms for Efficient Electrochemical Reduction of CO2

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within acceptable limits are needed. [3] From these scenarios, robust catalysts that can selectively reduce CO 2 in lieu of protons at high turnover frequency (TOF) and faradaic efficiency (FE) for CO 2 reduction are desired.Since Hori's pioneering study on electroreduction of CO 2 in the 1980s, [4] Cu, [5] Au, [6] Ag, [7] Zn, [8] Sn, [9] and Bi [10] among others, have been widely investigated for electrocatalysis of CO 2 reduction, due to their promising capability to convert CO 2 into valuable chemicals and fuels while the HER is largely suppressed. [2] Unfortunately, the CO chemical bond in CO 2 (≈806 kJ mol −1 ) is thermodynamically very stable and its conversion is an uphill energy process with a high activation barrier.

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